Chevrolet Sonic: Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire

Chevrolet Sonic Owners Manual

1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat.

2. Remove the wheel cover, if the vehicle has one, to reach the wheel bolts.

3. Turn the wheel nuts counterclockwise to loosen them. Do not remove them yet.

4. Place the jack at the position marked with a half circle.

5. Insert the jack handle into the jack and the wheel wrench onto the end of the jack handle.

6. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise until the lift head is firmly contacting the proper lifting point nearest the flat tire.

Warning

Getting under a vehicle when it is lifted on a jack is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

Warning

Raising the vehicle with the jack improperly positioned can damage the vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.

7. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the compact spare tire to fit underneath the wheel well.

8. Turn the wheel nuts counterclockwise to remove them.

9. Remove the flat tire.

Warning

Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose after time. The wheel could come off and cause an accident. When changing a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, a cloth or a paper towel can be used; however, use a scraper or wire brush later to remove all rust or dirt.

10. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces, and spare wheel.

11. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.

Warning

Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because the nuts might come loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a crash.

12. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.

13. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

Warning

Wheel nuts that are improperly or incorrectly tightened can cause the wheels to become loose or come off. The wheel nuts should be tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification after replacing. Follow the torque specification supplied by the aftermarket manufacturer when using accessory locking wheel nuts. See Capacities and Specifications  for original equipment wheel nut torque specifications.

Caution

Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for the wheel nut torque specification.

14. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown.

Caution

Wheel covers will not fit on the vehicle's compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.